5 Ways in 5 Days

 

Here are 5 ways to improve your English-Speaking Skills in only 5 days!

 

The best way to start on the path to improving your English skills is with a conversation, and a proven way to get that conversation started is to simply ask a question.  Questions are the sparks that lead to so much more of what many English learners are looking for.  From exploring your English-speaking city to finding out how to get to the nearest hiking trail or other fun things to do, direct questions are the first thing all students learn.  For example, a conversation could begin with “What is your name?” and continue with “Do you live nearby?” 

Using some new concepts to add on to the direct questions you already know, you’ll be able to level up your English in a great new way.  By simply beginning with what are commonly known as embedded or indirect questions, not only will you sound like a native English speaker, but also more polite.  All you need to do is add a noun clause with these 5 ways—choosing one a day.  Here are some ways to get you started:

 

You may normally say:  “Who is her sister?” To make it more polite, you can ask with an indirect or embedded question in the following way:

Do you know + who is her sister?

 

who is her sister—----will now become a noun clause and change to--------->who her sister is?            

“Do you know,” becomes the question followed by the embedded noun clause: who her sister is?

Here are a few more examples:

Do you know what time class starts?

Do you know what the password for the Internet is?

Do you know where the nearest Starbucks is?           

 

We can even make it more polite:

 

Can you tell me what time the show begins?

Can you tell me where I can park?

Can you tell me when the doors open? 

 

For Yes/No Questions, all you need to do is add “if” in the following manner:

 

Direct question:          Does bus number 21 stop here? 

           Will now become:        Can you tell me if bus number 21 stops here?

                                             Can you tell me if there is a holiday tomorrow?

                                             Can you tell me if it is ok to use this computer?

 

           You might also say:     Could you tell me if I need to take a test?

Could you tell me if there are any spaces available?

 

You can also use them in statements, which are rather common in asking for

information, as follows:

 

I was wondering if I could get a napkin.

I was wondering if you could help me.

I was wondering if I could ask a question.

 

When you would like to express doubt about the outcome, or just another statement to pose a        question, you can say:

 

                                             I don’t know where my keys are.

                                             I don’t know if she said yes or not.

                                             I don’t know what they mean.

 

These are just a few ways you can use and practice your English-speaking skills, one way each day, and if you’re planning on attending an ESL language school for your next visit to study English in Los Angeles, or beyond, you can try them on classmates, friends and especially, when trying to understand where you are, and what you need to do, simply try an indirect question to answer them all. 

 

If you are looking for a Los Angeles-based English language school, the best way to improve your skills is to study with the best. American English Language School can make the difference in learning how to speak like an English native speaker. Providing I-20s, transfers and more of what international students may be seeking; small classes are always guaranteed with an interactive approach to ensure your speaking skills are the focus of each segment in every class.